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Dissertation
Mental Health Mobile Applications In Counselor Education
University of West Florida Libraries
Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida
2015
Abstract
Mental health mobile applications (MHMAs) are providing new forms of psychoeducation and interventions. Along with the emergence of MHMAs comes the need for diligence in ensuring safety, protecting privacy, and maximizing benefits. As providers of foundational training for future mental health practitioners, university counseling programs prepare counselors for all aspects of practice, including mental health technologies. The use of MHMAs in counselor education was investigated in this mixed methods study. The conceptual basis was a theory triangulation approach using theories of technology use and acceptance and diffusion of innovations. Three central research questions guided the study: (a) What factors influence counselor educators' values of MHMAs as therapeutic tools? (b) What factors influence counselor educators' behavioral intentions to teach counseling students about MHMAs? and, (c) To what extent are graduate counseling-related programs contributing to future counselors' technological competence particularly regarding their ability to evaluate and integrate MHMAs? Participants were 132 professors from 99 university counseling programs. Participants completed an initial survey, an evaluation of an evidence-based mental health mobile application (app), and a postmeasure. Hierarchical multiple regression, ANCOVA, independent samples t-tests, and paired samples t-tests were used to analyze quantitative data. Results indicated that unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) variables along with anxiety/apprehension and ethical concerns are related to behavioral intentions to teach students about mental health mobile apps. The multiple regression analyses indicated that taken together, the variables investigated accounted for 51% (R2) of the variance in behavioral intentions to teach students about mental health apps. Generational category and levels of online course offerings were not found to significantly influence personal app use of educators, behavioral intentions to teach students about MHMAs, or total values of MHMAs. Trialability, interaction with one MHMA, was significantly related to behavioral intentions to teach counseling students about MHMAs and total values of MHMAs. Semistructured video chat interviews were conducted and analyzed in the qualitative strand to add depth and explain quantitative findings. The mixed methods analysis indicated that qualitative findings both supported and contradicted specific quantitative findings. This study has implications for all stakeholders in the mental health profession.
Details
- Title
- Mental Health Mobile Applications In Counselor Education
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 268
- Copyright
- © 2015 Marlene Lynette East
- Identifiers
- 99380090721906600
- Academic Unit
- School of Education
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- Education; University of West Florida; Doctor of Education (EDD)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida